When Jenni and Mike first came to me, a few things were clear: they wanted to have a good time and celebrate with the people they love most, but most importantly, they wanted anything but a ‘normal’ wedding, and they didn’t disappoint.
The Lost Village of Dode in Kent is a tiny medieval church sitting in the middle of bloody nowhere, on what felt like a mountain! It’s not a religious church, but has so much history and character.
It was like walking straight onto a Hogwarts set, flame torches and all!
Before getting ready, Mike was practising with the owl who would swoop down in the middle of the ceremony to deliver the rings — how nuts!
And that’s not where the fun stopped either. They had matching rings, silver with red stones, which, get this, they had made for them in Nepal while they climbed Mount Everest! (I guess they like mountains)
All I remember of the morning was, there were sunflowers absolutely everywhere, and it made the prep and details gorgeous to capture. Mike went for a floral shirt and waistcoat, and was ready in five minutes (obviously). Jenni got ready in a lovely little cottage down the hill. And of course being the big strong ginger man, I became chief dress zip-per-upper, when her purple and white wedding dress wouldn’t quite do up!
No-one took a photo of that, but I got a beautiful snap of the father of the bride helping with her necklace!
owl wedding ring delivery service
They loved each other so much, they got married twice! First up was the ceremony inside that intimate flint stone church, which only seats 40 people btw. More sunflowers everywhere 🌻 but it wasn’t the pollen making me cry. It was the wonderful and slightly quirky love story unfolding. The little giggle they shared when Jenni arrived up the aisle with her dad just made my heart melt! 🧡
It was a laugh too. They chose The Owl and the Pussy-Cat as their reading. Yes, because it’s cute: they love cats, and the three of us knew an owl was about to surprise everyone with the rings. But from the look on their faces, it was also because they wanted to see how many times “Pussy” could be said before we all LOLed. 🤣
Waiting for that owl was a bit nerve-racking. I had Eminem’s Lose Yourself playing in my head… one opportunity! But it was a truly magical sight 🦉 and it made Mike look like a wizard!
Talking of wizards, let’s not forget the ceremony master, who literally looks like Gandalf! 🧙♂️ It was him who, straight after the church ceremony, married them all over again with a beautifully relaxed handfasting ceremony, right in the middle of what is apparently a very spiritual stone circle. It was finished off with everyone, myself included, having to jump the broom for good luck! 🧹
Celebrations!!!
Out came the smoke bombs and confetti, and the whole place disappeared under clouds of yellow and blue smoke! The guests had their watercolour portraits done, tucked into the canapés and had a right laugh, with the guest alpacas! The couple and I sneaked off for a few relaxed couple photos. So relaxed, in fact, that we had them sitting on what looked like Aladdin’s carpet, and I couldn’t resist a quick on theme Photoshop edit! 🧞♂️
We were back just in time for dinner, where the church had been transformed into a 10th-century king’s dining room, with hay bales for seats and a straw dance floor!
The best man took the piss out of a certain politician in his speech, and the bride and groom nearly needed an ambulance after having a sword fight whilst cutting the cake! And Mike got his face covered in cake!
The day finished off with a swing singer for the first dance, which was so good jeeni had to take her heels off! Followed by a dad and daughter dance and a mum and son dance, cheese on toast in the twilight, and lighting a custom-made fire pit. 🧡
